title: Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use among a group of patients with type 2 diabetes receiving outpatient care in Singapore.
abstract: This study aims to identify patterns and evaluate factors associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among type 2 diabetes patients in Singapore. A cross-sectional descriptive study using a self-administered questionnaire was performed among type 2 diabetes patients at an outpatient diabetes centre, and participants' medical records were accessed for diabetes complications and conventional medicine for managing diabetes. Among 304 participants, 43.4% used CAM and 61.2% did not inform health-care professionals of their CAM use. Three most common CAM were nutritional supplements, Chinese herbal medicine and massage. Friends (44.2%), partner and family (38%) were top sources of information for CAM, whereas factors significantly associated with CAM use were gender (P = 0.049), total monthly household income (P = 0.048) and frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose (P = 0.036). Results highlight a need for improved health-care professionals-patients communication and for health-care professionals to be educated on CAM to provide relevant education to patients.
authors.affiliation: Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Peijin Esther Monica
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Moon Fai
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yoke Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Siew Lin Serena
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012846:Singapore; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Singapore; alternative medicine; complementary medicine; diabetes mellitus; type 2 diabetes